Enviornmental Science Module 2

Watershed

Area of land where all water that falls into it and drains off of it goes to a common outlet

Groundwater

water beneath earth’s surface, stored in aquifers

Surface water

snow,land,ice (glaciers, ice sheets, ice caps) Lakes , ponds, wetlands, rivers, streams

Metro Vancouver Water supply

Watersheds: capilano, seymour, coquitlam

Hydrological cycle

conceptual model that illustrates flow of water as it moves from earth’s spheres

Groundwater has the largest residence time

Earth System Functions of Water: hydroclimatic regulation

water flows refulate the earth’s climate system

Earth System Functions of Water: storage

fresh water storage in groundwater, lakes, wetlands , reservoirs and frozen water interacts with the earth system as a control over sea level

Earth System Functions of Water: transport

water fluxes are fundamental for moving, displacing and diluting sediment and dissolved nutrients on the surface or within soils.

Earth System Functions of Water: hydroecological regulation

enables and connects life on land and aquatic ecosystems, and creates and sustains the ecosystem that human society depend on.